The best budget blues harmonica?

Today we’re taking a look at an east top 008k blues harmonica. Special thanks to James Bellowin and Dirty Pat Walsh
T008k

[@KyrenHarmonica]

Thank you for the shout out brother! I'm glad you're enjoying the easttop as much as I am!

[@ikust007]

Dirty Pat : top notch gentleman

[@Grimmwoldds]

5:15 They're electroplated brass reed plates(standard on all their tin sandwich harps). If you keep looking, you'll see both "brass" and "electroplated brass". They're both technically correct, because electroplating doesn't mean it's not brass). They are definitely NOT steel, because they use self tapping screws to secure the reedplates(brass is soft enough for self-tapping screws, steel is not). If you buy enough T008s, you'll come across reed plates with loose screws because someone at the factory overtightened a reed plate screw and stripped the bottom/draw plate out. You see this on reeds too. Some say brass, which is incorrect. Easttop AFAIK doesn't make any brass reeds. Somebody just put brass into a text field incorrectly when making the listing. They're always phosphor bronze from the cheapo t003s I have all the way up to the pro level stuff(I have a few pro 20s) 12:52 They spot weld reeds on some models. They use rotary engravers and files on the reeds, if you're thinking of the harmonica mastery factory walkthrough, at three minutes in they show a woman using a file and rotary engraver. Every Easttop I have(from t003 to the pro 20) has distinct rotary engraver markings on it. It's a tiny spinning ball with diamond coated surfaces and leaves a little round mark elongated along the reed.

[@allenhawker3911]

I like the Easttop but I do have an on and off issue with random reeds sticking on me for some reason. At least my C one anyways. I just bought an A one so we’ll see how that does. I bought an Amazing 20 in C just to compare. I guess I’ll find out. But I like having some budget harps and love the feel and sound of the Easttop. I think it’s definitely a lot of bang for $25.

[@ikust007]

Agree. Top notch .

[@ikust007]

I like them because of the open covers . Just fold the back and Voila 💙

[@ikust007]

I wanted to buy the none painted covers : but hard to get

[@bilbowaggins3036]

I got some in paddy richter and I'm not a big fan. The cover plates have weird paint and the writing on the cover plates is in a weird material that I feel dragging on my lips. I much prefer kongsheng or jdr for budget harps personally. That said, it you get an lesst top with a smooth coverplate, I'm sure it's fine.

[@samthomas9574]

Great advice for any beginner and the great thing about starting out on the harp. Jumping up from 'toy' harps to good quality instrument doesn't require you to sink hundreds£££ into it. Modest price will get you good quality.

[@ikust007]

12:23 nothing beats the MB. Cover beauty

[@sonamebel-fm9kl]

Hot. Marlboro County poster.

[@ikust007]

16:56 that’s me…😂

[@anthonypanepinto9685]

I have read on another Pod that the one downside is it will pull out mustache hairs. What have u found out?

[@formansbasement2311]

@@anthonypanepinto9685 a lot of harmonicas pull out mustache hairs brother, not much can be done about it

[@Jonahch2v9]

Surprisingly easy to play, very robust instrument. Problem is quality control. Mine has one key that doesn't work at all. Open it up and the welds are everywhere. Many reviews have said the same. So, it's a gamble purchase.

[@SHERIFF8311]

Got a few of them, nice harp, do u notice any difference in between the blue one and the black one? I don't 😅

[@TH3_T3RM1N4T0R]

Only the color as far as I am aware.

[@mindscaper1898]

This company is a joke They have taken so many ads in Amazon and eBay that when you do a search for harmonica or even type in marine band etc You will get flooded with eastflop ads Newcomers looking for a budget harp should get a special 20 or a marine band classic by honher The company promoted in this video is trying to undercut tried and tested classic harmonicas with these cheap things I would be rich if I had a dollar for people telling me how easy these great And the company has 400 plus staff in a warehouse in china and it’s clear they are not paid respectfully These are throwaway harps I tried one, it doesn’t come close to decent honher harps

[@formansbasement2311]

@@mindscaper1898 take it easy there big bud! I like hohner, I just can’t afford them. And to be honest, I don’t care what they pay their workers and I don’t care that they buy ads. To me it comes down to getting a cheap instrument that works. My life is miserable enough, I don’t have time to worry about the Chinese factories man, I straight up do not care at all. If it works and it’s cheap, I’ll buy it. The way you’re talking sounds like you’ve had a lot of privilege in your life. For most people, 50$ for a marine band is a lot of money. If I had the money, I would gladly only play hohner. But I’m broke, so I’ll take what I can get and I really don’t care what anyone has to say about it. These Chinese easstopz are miles better than cheap harps used to be a few years ago

[@mindscaper1898]

@@formansbasement2311 so you don’t care about slavery Ok……. Sorry, thought I was talking to a human

[@arseburgers4208]

Been looking at one of these to replace my old 1997 vintage Hohner Pro Harp MS, feels too unethically cheap to buy in my honest opinion. makes me wonder what they dont pay their workers for.